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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # 19-N-1-11-3:  USS Alabama underway, 19 May 1918

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Alabama (Battleship # 8, later BB-8), 1900-1921

USS Alabama, a 11,565-ton Illinois class battleship, was built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was commissioned in October 1900. During the next seven years, she primarily operated along the U.S. East Coast and in the Caribbean area, taking part in the exercises and gunnery practice that were the main tasks of battleships in peacetime. In mid-1904 Alabama, accompanied by three other battleships and three cruisers, steamed across the Atlantic for a visit to Portugal, followed by a tour of duty in the Mediterranean Sea. Her next major operation was the Atlantic Fleet's cruise around the World, which began at Hampton Roads, Virginia, in December 1907. Subsequently, Alabama steamed around South America to the West Coast, crossed the Pacific to the Philippines, voyaged through the Indian Ocean, transited the Suez Canal and returned to the East Coast by way of the Mediterranean and Atlantic.

After this long journey ended in October 1908 Alabama went into reserve. Before recommissioning in April 1912 she was modernized, receiving new "cage" masts and other modifications that greatly altered her appearance. The battleship was often in reserve over the next five years, but undertook occasional training cruises in the western Atlantic. When the U.S. entered World War I in April 1917 she began a wartime career of recruit training operations, operating in Chesapeake Bay, along the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. In 1919, after the conflict's end, she took part in fleet maneuvers in the West Indies and served as a Naval Academy training ship.

Alabama's seagoing service ended in August 1919, though she was not placed out of commission until May 1920. A few months later, as the Navy implemented its hull number system, she was designated BB-8. In September 1921 the now-obsolete battleship was transferred to the War Department for use as an aerial bombing target. As a result of damage received at the hands of Army aviators she sank in Chesapeake Bay on 27 September 1921. Her wreck was sold in March 1924 and later raised and scrapped.

This page features selected views concerning USS Alabama (Battleship # 8), and provides links to others of her as a bombing target.

For other images of this ship, see:

  • USS Alabama (BB-8) -- As a Bombing Target, 1921.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 73784

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    Underway at low speed, circa 1901.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 57757-KN (color)

    USS Alabama (Battleship # 8)

    Photograph taken during the early 1900s and reproduced on a contemporary color-tinted postal card.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 149KB; 740 x 490 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 57755

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    Moored in port, June 1901.
    Note the large National Ensign, booms rigged out as propeller guards, and semaphore "paddles" on the mainmast.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 108KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105551

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    Anchored off New York City, 1905. She is flying a rear admiral's flag at her mainmast peak.
    Photographed by C.C. Langill, New York.

    Collection of Warren Beltramini, donated by Beryl Beltramini, 2007.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image size: 61KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105552

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    Anchored off New York City, with several steam launches and other boats alongside, 1905. She is flying a rear admiral's flag at her mainmast peak.
    Photographed by C.C. Langill, New York.

    Collection of Warren Beltramini, donated by Beryl Beltramini, 2007.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image size: 59KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 72262

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    At anchor, 2 May 1907.
    Note the semaphore "paddles" mounted on her foremast. These were fitted to her mainmast in 1901.

    Donation of Harry R. Cudwump, 1970.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 73315

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    Photographed by Fred W. Kelsey, probably off San Diego, California, in 1908.

    Courtesy of R.W. Cunningham, 1971.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 450 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 57753

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    Off New York City, during the October 1912 Naval Review.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: 19-N-1-11-3

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    Underway on 19 May 1918, following the removal of some of her midships six-inch guns.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 8

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    Off Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1919.
    Photographed by LaTour.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 57497

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    Ship's Gunner and Gunner's Mates, 1903.
    Note the kitten and parrot mascots, and the comment written on the First Class Gunner's Mate at right.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 125KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 57495

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    Champion guns crew with Lieutenant Lewis J. Clark, 1903. They are posed with a 13-inch shell, on the foredeck in front of the ship's forward 13"/35 gun turret.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 57496

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    Crew members F. Petry (left) and W.M. Langridge (in gun) pose at the breech of one of the ship's 13"/35 guns, 1903.
    Note the "A" with figure "8" knot on Petry's shirt.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 560 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 57494

    USS Alabama
    (Battleship # 8)

    Forward turret crew Gunner's Mates pose by the breech of one of the ship's 13"/35 guns, 1903.
    Note the ex-Apprentice marks (figure "8" knot badges) worn by two of these men.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 625 pixels

     

    Note: One of our photographs, NH 60570, has long been thought to show USS Alabama. However, the ship seen there has been conclusively reidentified as USS Illinois (Battleship # 7). She was of the same basic design as Alabama, but differed in detail, as explained in remarks provided on the Picture Data pages for Photo # NH 60570 and Photo # 19-N-1-11-3.


    For other images of this ship, see:

  • USS Alabama (BB-8) -- As a Bombing Target, 1921.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 27 December 2002
    New images added 11 April 2008